Winter Break Australia, $3950 (6 credits)
December 10, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Apply Here or send a question Here
Program Overview
Avoid the start of Winter in the U.S. and enjoy a few weeks of summer in Australia on this study abroad program that explores human/cultural and environment relations from a sustainable development perspective. Sustainability is a defining global issue and, over the past several decades, Australia has made critical advances in green politics, economics and lifestyle behaviors, as well as in indigenous relations and in recognising the nation as a multi-cultural society, to become one of the most progressive countries in the world. We focus on four distinctly different communities: Marine life of the Great Barrier Reef, Aboriginal culture in the Outback, eco-tourism development of the Sunshine Coast, and the urban metropolises of Sydney and Brisbane.
We travel first to Sydney and examine urban issues in a city often touted as the number one place to live in the world. By staying in the Rocks (an historic area of early European colonisation and immediately adjacent to the Opera House, Circular Quay, and the Harbor Bridge), we experience first-hand the politics of sustainable planning in Sydney. After a short flight to Brisbane, we then travel by coach to the Outback and a region of the country with cultural and natural evidence of the world’s longest living continual human habitation, the Aborigines. Afterwards, we travel to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast to explore sustainable tourism from a coastal community perspective. We then take a short flight to Lady Elliot Island (a small eco-resort in the Great Barrier Reef) for several days to study biodiversity of the marine environment. We complete the program with a few days in Brisbane before returning to the States in time for the start of the Spring semester.
One of the unique features of the program is the activities and hands-on opportunities we have along the way: Snorkel (and/or dive) the Great Barrier Reef, experience Aboriginal bush life where we discover Australia’s unique marsupial fauna (including koalas and kangaroos), hike tropical rain forests, experience some of the world’s best surfing beaches, and explore city environments of Brisbane and Sydney. An integrated perspective allows us to draw upon multiple disciplines to address how we manage and sustain the diverse environments (on which we are all dependent) in a rapidly changing and global world.
The program is open to all students from UGA and from other institutions and no prior knowledge is assumed.
Program Itinerary
Click on the link below to learn more about the program itinerary
Winter Break Australia
Credits
People, Planet and Profit FANR(ANTH/ECOL/GEOG/INTL 4271/6271) 6 credits (FANR 4271W is available as a substitute 3-credit course and meets Writing Certificate requirements. Contact Discover Abroad for more information.) There are no course prerequisites.
* 4271/6271 is cross-listed with ANTH (Anthropology), ECOL (Ecology), FANR (Forestry and Natural Resources), GEOG (Geography), and INTL (International Affairs). (Note: INTL 4271H replaces INTL6271.) Please contact your advisor to see which of our cross-listed courses will best fit into your schedule. The 4000 level courses are for undergraduate students and 6000 level courses are for graduates and honors students. Some post-program assignments (due during Spring Semester) are required.
Costs
Program cost includes all accommodations, field excursions, cultural events, ground transportation, and approximately 75% of meals. Tuition (HOPE applies and out-of-state or non-UGA students pay in-state tuition) and airfare are additional. We also strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance for airline tickets.
For UGA students (in-state and out-of-state) tuition for this program is included as part of Spring Semester (and tuition costs are the same regardless of whether you register for 7 or more credits in Spring; however, registering for more than 17 credits requires approval from your academic dean). Out-of-state students will receive an out-of-state tuition waiver (i.e. tuition for participation will be charged at the in-state level) if they are registered only for study abroad courses. Contact Discover Abroad for more information.
Download the Estimated Costs for a more detailed breakdown.
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Testimonials
“This program will give you the most unforgettable experience of your life. You will be challenged, but you will also grow in ways that you wouldn’t expect. Keep an open mind and soak in every moment!” (Winter Break, 2026)
“You do not grow in comfort. It is important to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and meet new people. This program will push you to do just that and give you the support and confidence to do so.” (Winter Break, 2026)
“Go on this program while you have the opportunity. The lessons will stick with you for life and influence you to become a better person.” (Winter Break, 2026)
“As I reflected during my flight back to Georgia, I realized the profound impact this study abroad experience has had on me. Although my path lies in healthcare, the environment and the future of our world have always been deeply interesting to me, and these courses further ignited that interest. I’ve also been inspired to travel more, and I’m truly grateful to you for giving me the courage to act on that. This trip challenged me to think more critically about how our individual actions affect the planet, a lesson I will carry with me in every aspect of my life. Emily Nettles (Winter Break, 2024)
This program was incredibly well done, and I was thoroughly impressed by the accommodations, stops that we made, and material. I enjoyed each stop and truly had the best time both academically and personally. I would recommend this program to anyone and am so thankful that I got to attend. I believe that this experience will be one of the most impactful of my college experience. Grace Stephens (Winter Break, 2024)
“This experience truly changed my life. I decided to spend three weeks with 30 people I had never met. I had never been overseas, yet alone on a plane, and it was the best abroad experience to start with. Being in nature and learning about the culture of Australia with everything laid out for you was such a unique experience that cannot easily be replicated.” (Winter Break, 2023)
“I stepped off the plane in Sydney thinking I would just learn about solar panels or recycling, and here I am now, truly inspired and excited to take part in our community’s strides toward progress.” (Winter Break, 2019)
“The best three and a half week whirlwind trip of my life. These were once in a lifetime experiences I got to share with strangers that very quickly turned into forever friends.” (Winter Break, 2019)